Camera



Q 1950 w. E- TAlT ETAL 2,531,652

CAMERA Filed Sept. 18, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS W/LFPE'D E. 74/7AUGUST w. STZLPFll/G Y A 7' TOP/V5) Nov. 28, 1950 w E. TAIT ETAL2,531,652

CAMERA Filed Sept. 18, 1948 iii T?- [$5 1 @fi'a4.

so 28 12W 27 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTORS W/(FPED E. 74/7 35 AUGUST W.STELLPFLUG Nov. 28, 1950 w. E. TAlT EIAL CAMERA s sheets-sheet 5 FiledSept. 18, 1948 M firm Y M NM 5 m n N V R W 0 0w M T v A w W w or dis-c.

Patented Nov. 28, 1950 CAMERA Wilfred E. Tait and August W. Stellpflug,New Canaan, Conn, assignors to American Safety Razor Corporation,Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Application September 18,1948, Serial No. 49,896

6 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to improvements in cameras andmore particularly to :a camera comprising a flat, lightweight bodyadapted to hold sensitized films at one or both sides thereof and foruse with a lens assembly to produce a plurality of images in ringformation upon a sensitized film in said body. Said camera body includesat each face outside of a film therein, a front plate or lens carrierdisc arranged to turn step by step about the axis of the ring area to beoccupied by the exposures and, having an opening therethrough and at theoutside thereof a lens-assembly-receiving means around said opening. Atthe inner face of this member there is a shutter adapted to traveltherewith and to be in closed position across said opening when the lensassembly is absent. At the inner side of said shutter is an imageaperture plate having an aperture opposite said opening in the lenscarrier plate Said image aperture plate is attached to the lens carrierplate and these plates or discs and the shutter therebetween constitutea front plate or front disc assembly. Installation of said lens systemopens said shutter and removal of said lens assembly closes saidshutter.

The camera is of a type wherein the camera I body or film holder may beloaded in a dark room with one or more sensitized films. The loadedcamera body may then be returned to the user or owner with the shutteror shutters closed. Each shutter will be opened by proper placing of thelens assembly and movement thereof to operative position. Uponcompletion of the exposures of frame areas on a sensitized film, theshutter at that side of the camera body, may be closed by removal ofsaid lens assembly. The lens assembly may then be installed at the otherside of the camera and a series of frame areas exposed on thecorresponding film. After completion of the exposures of films, in saidcamera bod and removal of said lens assembly, the camera body may bemailed or otherwise forwarded to a central developing and reloadinglaboratory. Then, prints from the exposed negatives and the freshlyloaded camera body may be mailed to the user.

The camera body being fiat and constructed of light metal such asaluminum may be mailed in an envelope.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel andadvantageous camera of the cured at opposite sides. Another factorresides in the use of annular grooves in the film supporting faces ofsaid center baffle disc, thus lightening the disc and avoiding adherenceof the films to the disc. Another factor resides in the holding of afilm against turning with reference to the baffle disc by providing asuitably shaped projection from the center of the baffle disc which fitsinto a corresponding shaped opening at the center of the film.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and advantageousmeans for securing to the central baflle disc, the camera parts atopposite sides thereof. To this end said baflle disc is re cessed ateach face to receive a front plate assembly and to provide a bead tosurround the circumference of the front plate. Said baffle disc is alsoprovided with a central channel or groove extending completely aroundits circumference. Each face plate assembly may be secured to the baffledisc by an outer ring or rim having a cylindrical portion fitting overthe corresponding side of the circumference of the baflle disc and aflange extending over the outer face of the face plate at itscircumference, the inner edge of said cylindrical portion being turneddown into said groove. Each of these retaining rings may be knurled atits circumference to assist in holding the bafile disc while the faceplate is being turned by means of the lens system.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for determining theparticular part of the film over which the lens system is located. Thisobject may be attained by providing numbered marks on the face plate anda pointer on the adjacent rim of a securing ring. Said pointer may beintegral with the ring and used for tearing off the ring in a darkchamber.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide novel and advantageousmeans for accurately positioning a face plate for exposure ofpredetermined portions of a sensitized film. This object may be attainedby providing novel and advantageous detent means effective for suchpositioning action.

Other features, objects and advantages will appear upon consideration ofthe following detailed description and of the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one face of a camera embodying the presentinvention, and with a lens system installed at said face;

Fig. 2 is a view in edge elevation of the camera structure illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. as seen. from the rear; I

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4, certain partsbeing broken away and the shutter being shown in open position;

Fig. 61s a section taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4, certain partsbeing broken away;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view looking at the inner face of the aperturedisc, the dotted line position of the adjacent shutter opening showingthat the shutter is in closed position;

Fig. 10 is a, fragmentary front view of the baffle disc;

Figpll is a View illustrating the arrangement of the pictures on adeveloped film.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 2, 4 and 8, it willbe seen that the camera bodycomprises a central baffle disc 29 whichserves as a foundation on which the other parts of the camera aresupported. Said disc 26 may be made of any suitable material.Projections 2| are provided at opposite sides of the center of. saiddisc. crosssection that when fitted into corresponding openings in othermembers, any relative turning movement will .be prevented. Preferablysaid projections 2| are parts of a plug 22, preferably of metal,embedded inthe-material of said disc 21] at its center. As illustratedprojections 2| are of square cross section and extend inwardly to thesurface of the disc 20.

When the camera is loaded, there is a circular sensitized film or filmdisc 2?v at each side of said baflle disc 20. Also each of these filmshas a square central opening 24 receiving one of said square projections21.. .Each film issupported by the plastic at the base of thecorresponding projections and .by circular ribs 25 projecting from theadjacent face of bafiie disc and spaced substantially .at uniformdistances along the radii thereof. Near its outer edge each film 23issupported by a circular rib .25 of greater width than ribs .215.However, the edge of said film projects beyond said rib26 and part wayacross a circular groove .21..

Just outside of the circular groove 21 on each side of the disc 2|], isa circular rib 28 of considerable width and projecting outwardly to andbeyond theplane of the tops .of ribs and 26 to an extent determined bythe thickness of films .23. Qutside of circular rib .278 is a circulargroove 29 and outside of groove 29 'isv ahead 3i! extend- ,ing beyondthe outer surface of circular rib 28 .to an extentcapable ofaccommodating .a front or face plate assembly. Said beads as provide .awide rim for said disc 2!]. Said front plate assembly comprises a frontplate 3|, a shutter disc 32 against the inner face of said front plate,and an aperture plate 33 secured at its edge to said front plate 31 byfolding the edge of said frontplate back over the edge of said apertureplate which contains an aperture 34. This provides .a fold 35 which isoffset inwardly to such an extent that the plane of its outer surface isjust inside the plane of the inner face of the main body of the. frontor .face plate 3 I.

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the face plate assembly isturned step by step through different positions for exposures overdifferent areas of bafile disc 20, and the shutter disc is turned withreference to face plate SI and aperture plate 33.

Said aperture plate 33 is provided near fold 35 Said projections are soshaped in 5 with an annular corrugation or rib 36 projecting inwardlyand having a flat top adapted to engage said rib 25 as well as overlyingfilm 23 at the outer edge thereof, and also with another annularcorrugation or rib 31, to engage said film along an annular path withina circle drawn with a radius less than the radial distance of the inneredge of aperture 34 from the axis thereof.

At its central portion, aperture plate 33 is formed with a cylindricalprojection 38 extending outwardly beyond the outer end of thecorresponding projection 2 i, and provided at its outer end with aninwardly extending annular flange .39 with a central opening 40 (Fig. 4)of a diameter somewhat less than the length of a diagonal of the squareend of the projection 2 H Also the shutter disc 32 is formed at itscentral part with a cylindrical projection 4| enclosing projection 38 ofthe aperture disc or plate 33, and an outer end -42 for said projectionhaving a square opening -53. Said cylindrical projection 4| extendsthrough a central opening in face plate 3| and said square opening 43fits over-a square inward projection 43a of a head 44 and is securedthereto by peening the corners of projection 43a at its corners 460,(Fig. 3). Said head as comprises an arcuate set of teeth or rack d5,beneath a round cap 46. This arrangement facilitates the formation ofthe face plate J3|, shutter disc 32 and aperture plate 33, as bystampingand their assembly.

The front or face plate 3| is provided with lens assembly holding meansin the form of a cylindrical outward projection '4! having at its outerend a narrow inturned'flange 48 provided at its edge with arcuatecutouts or notches 49'to receive corresponding projections 50 at theoutside of tube 5| forming part of a lens assembly 52. In order tofacilitate insertion and removal of projections 50, there is an inwardbend Ma at one end of each notch 49 to guide a projection 55 into thenotch when the lens assembly is turned in clockwise direction and toguide it out of the notch when the lens assembly is turnedcounterclockwise.

Said lens-assembly '52 also includes an outer tub 53 of suitablematerial provided with a'rack 54 comprising an arcuate set of teethadap'ted'for insertion beneath said cap 45 to'mesh with said rack 45.When the lens assembly is placed in the cylindrical projection il withthe forward end of rack 54 just clearing the cap 46 so that the rack canbe moved under the same in a clockwise direction. A short clockwise turnof the lens-assembly will thenlock it to saidface plate L l-and shiftthe shutter disc to-open position as will be described more fullyhereinafter.

Said face plate 3! has marked thereondigits running from I through 8 atregular intervalsto indicate, in connection with a pointer 55 fixed withrespect to bafile disc 20, the angular position of the face plateassembly with referenceto disc 29. Preferably said pointer is integralwith a flange 56 of aretain-ing ring 5! having aknurled -cylindricalpart surrounding the adjacent half of the rim of said baffle disc 28.Said flange 56 engages the inwardly offset edgeof said face plate 3| sothat the outer face of said flange is flush with the outer surface ofthe central part of said face plate. Furthermore, the inner edge of saidcylindrical portion of the retaining ring 51'is forced down into agroove 58 at the periphery of the bafiie disc between the beads 35 atopposite faces of the disc. Thus the face plate assembly is securelyconnected to the baflle disc although it can be turned freely withrespect thereto.

In view of the fact that a portion of the surface of the face plate 3!is covered by the lens assembly 52 when the latter is attached thereto,

' the digits are placed around the disc or plate 3| so that the digitindicating each position of the face plate and lens assembly will appearjust to one side of the lens assembly (Fig. l) Of course the pointer 55must be positioned accordingly.

Included in the arcuate set of teeth comprising the rack 54 of the lensassembly is a broad starting tooth 59 and a broad stopping tooth 60, andincluded in the arcuate set of teeth of rack 45 fixed to the shutterdisc 32, is a broad starting tooth (ii. To enable easy and accurateregistration between the gear teeth of the lens assembly and entrance ofprojections 50 into slots 49, the

shutter disc 32 is provided with two like aperw tures 63 (Fig. 5) eachof which is considerably larger than the aperture 34 of the aperturedisc or plate 33. Fig. 5 shows the shutter in open position but turningthe lens assembly to removal position will shift the effective aperture63 through 90 to the right or in a clockwise direction. The secondaperture 63 is not used after connection of the shutter disc to the head44 and the rack 35 associated therewith. However, either aperture 63might have been made the effective one in originally assembling theparts.

Relative positioning of the face plate assembly with reference to thebaffle plate 23 and an associated film must be accurate for all of thevarious exposure positions numbered 1 through 3. To this end a detentspring Ed is secured at its left end (Figs. 5 and 7) at the bottom of arecess or groove 65 in the bafiie disc 20. The right end of the springis urged upwardly and is provided with an outturned tooth 56, which isnormally held against outward movement but as the face plate is turnedclockwise in Figs. 1 and 5,

I is snapped into one of the various slots 5'! in the folded overcircumference of the face plate 3| and the circumference of the apertureplate 33.

When one of the slots 67 moves along to a position over outturned tooth65, the face plate will be held definitely in position for an exposureon one of the frame areas 68 of a film disc 23. Al-

though the face plate 31 is detained in this posiquarter turn inclockwise direction, the lens holder will be secured to said face orfront plate 3|, and shutter disc 32 will be turned to open position. Atthe same time a finder 10 on the lens assembly or mounting 52 is movedto a position where it can be used, just outside of the rim 6 of bafiledisc 29. This movement of the shutter disc 32 to open position does notcause exposure of an area on a film in the camera but makes possible anexposure on the film disc 23 back of the face assembly under control ofa lens-assemblyshutter operated by a finger lever 2 when swung in aclockwise direction (Fig. 1).

To indicate when the shutter disc 32 is in open position, provision ismade of a small circular opening 13 in face plate 3! and indicia such asa colored. spot 14 on shutter disc 32 in a position to show throughopening 13 when the shutter disc 32 is opened. In View of the fact thatthere are two apertures or openings 63, care must be taken to place theopening 13 in such a position that it will not be over one of saidopenings or apertures 53 when the shutter is open.

The face plate assemblies on opposite sides of disc 23 are identicalexcept for the numbers indicating the positions of the face plateassemblies with reference to the disc 20. On one face plate 3! theindication numbers run from 1 to 8 inclusive, in a counter-clockwisedirection, and on the other face plate the numbers run from 9 to 16inclusive. Of course the number of positions may be varied in anysuitable manner, as by changing the apparatus to make smaller individualpictures so as to provide a greater number of exposure areas in the ringon the film, or by increasing the radial distance of the ring ofexposure areas from the center of each film disc 23.

Obviously, the first exposure should be made with the face plate 3|(bearing numerals 1 through 8) in the position corresponding to thenumeral 1. After an exposure at the number 1 position, the lens assemblyand face plate assembly are moved to the number 2 position and thispractice is followed until exposures have been made at all of the eightpositions. Then if the disc 23 is provided at its other face with asensitized film disc with positions numbered 9 to 16 inclusive, the lensassembly 52 which has been removed from the face plate assembly at thefirst side of the disc 20 may be applied to the face plate assembly withpositions 9 through 16 marked thereon. Preferably in loading the camerabody, the front plate assemblies at opposite sides of disc 28 are soarranged that the numeral 1 at one side and the numeral 9 at the otherside are directly opposite each other. Then when the first eightexposures have been made, the camera body may be turned about a verticalaxis and the 9 position will be in the proper place for use.

When exposur at all of these positions have been made, the lens assemblymay be removed, thus moving the shutter disc to closed position. Thefiat camera body or film holder may then be placed in an envelope andshipped to a central developing and reloading laboratory.

It should be noted that the loadings at opposite sides of the disc 28are entirely independent of each other and that, when desired, one sideonly may be loaded. Of course the rings 5'! provide a very simple andeffective way of securing face plate assemblies to disc 20, and thepointers 55 on flanges 56 of the rings 5! provide simple and effectivemeans for positioning the face plate assemblies at exposure positions.

Furthermore, the annular ribbed surfaces of the disc 20 make it easierto adjust the support of film 23 and avoid undue friction between a film23 and the surface of the disc 20 and the aperture plate 33 at oppositesides thereof.

The replica 62 of the outline of the teeth on*engag'ebrOads'tartingtooth 6| of rack 45 of'the shutter disc and bringthe uniform teeth of racks 45 and '54 into mesh. The two racks will thenmove together until the broad stopping tooth 69 of rack 54 ise'ngaged byatooth of rack 5. At

this time the lens assembly will be in its Fig. 1

position. As a further precaution, provision is made of a stop 15 tolimit the clockwise movement of=startingtooth 59 and a stop 16 to limitthe counterclockwise movement of stopping tooth 60.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the lens assembly com-prises'an outer lens l1and an inner lens 18. Between these lenses is a shutter-device 19operated by'said finger lever or piece 12. Also just outside of saidshutter device is a partition or :stop'80 having a circular'aperture-iilat the inner reduced end of a round tapered hole through the stop.

It should be understood that various changes may be made and thatvarious features may be used Without others, without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A film cassette for holding sensitized film ini-sheet form'andadapted to expose successive 'areas'of the film'by rotationaldisplacement of a closure having an-exposure aperture and a shuttertherefor; said cassette comprising a thin fiat A.

:base member having means forfixedly holding two'sheets of film, oneagainst each face of the base, said base member being provided with anintegral widened rim extending along its perimeter to define a shallowrecess on each side of the base for receiving the film, a closureassembly i-nc'lud-ing an aperturedclosure plate and a shutter for theaperture received in each of said recesses'spaced from the film holdingface of the base by at least film thickness, said rim being peripherallygrooved and separate means on each side of the base rotatably holdingeach closure assembly to the base.

2. A film cassette for holding sensitized film in sheet form and adaptedto expose successive areas of the film by rotational-displacement of aclosure having an exposure aperture and a shutter therefor; saidcassette comprising a thin fiat base member having means for fixedlyholding two sheets of film, one a'gainst'each face-of the base,

'said base member being provided with an integral portion engaging thebase member rim including a lip engaged in the groove of the rimand'aportion extending inwardlyof the rim and overlying the outer surface ofthe closur assembly to define with the base :member a channel withinwhich said closure assembly is rotatably held.

'3. A'film holding cassette as set forth in claim 2 wherein .saidmea-nsfor fixedly holding the two :she'jets 10f film comprises an integralboss extendring from each side face of :the said base member,

said bosses being non-circular inform and enterable into correspondinglyshaped openings in the film sheets to prevent rotation thereof.

4. A film holding cassette constructed as set forth in claim -2 whereinsaidbase member is -a disc whose film holding faces are provided withgrooves for, decreasing the weight of the base member, and said separatemeans for "holding theclosure assemblies comprise a pair of boldingrings each having an annular flange overlying the outer edge of therotatable closure and an inturned lip extending into the peripheralgroove of said rim.

5. A film holding cassette constructed as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid base member is provided with an annular shoulder on each o'f 'ltsfilm supporting faces spaced inwardly of said rim, said shoulderprotruding from said face a distance equalling the thickness of said'film to form a central circular pocket on each side of the base forreceiving a film disc, said widened rim on the base member protrudingbeyond said shoulders a distance equalling the thickness of the closureassembly and defining a second and closure receivingpocket on each sideof the base member positioned outwardly of the filmreceiving pocket,each closure assembly being received in one of said second pockets androtatably held in a channel defined by said shoulder and said extendedand closure overlying portion of the'holding means.

6. A film cassette for holding -.sensitizedfi1m in sheet form andadapted to expose successive areas of said film "by rotationaldisplacement "of a closure having an exposure aperture and a shuttertherefor; said cassette comprising a thin fiat base member havingmea'nsfor fixedly h'olding a sheet of film against one face, said base"member being provided with an'integral widened rim extending about itsperimeter 'to define a shallow recess for receiving the film, a closureassembly including an a-pertured closure plate and a shutter for theaperture received within said recess spaced from the film supportingface of the base by a shoulder integral with the base member and of filmthickness, and means 'for rotatably holding the closure assembly to thebase, said means including clamping flanges engaging iaces of the rimand a flange c'onnecti'ng web, one of said flanges extending inwardly ofthe rim and overlying the outer surface o'f'the closure assembly todefine with the said base member shoulder a channel within which saidclosure assembly is rotatably held.

WII lFR ED E. TAI'I" AUGUST W. STELLPFLUG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 46,503 Shute Feb. 21, i3351,127,539 Stern Feb. 9, 1915 1,736,436 Fuerst Nov. 19, 1929 2,136,149Nuchterlein Nov. 8, 1938 2,188,974 Dilks Feb. 6, 1940 2,446,200 TaitAug. 3, 1 948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,655 Great BritainJuly 27, 1886 202,046 Great Britain are Aug. 13, 1-923

